Woodland supports the ministry of Palmer Drug Abuse Program in San Antonio. Here are some stories from Woodlanders whose families have benefited from their services. To be a free guest at the Woodland table at their info and fund raising breakfast, please contact Martha Morse at 493-6017 or by email. If you would like more information about PDAP’s upcoming events, please click here. 

FROM WOODLAND FAMILIES:

I wanted to first provide a few of the little known facts about drug addiction that I did not know. There are an estimated 11 million Americans with the disease of addiction. Addiction is considered a disease of the brain. For some people, when they try drugs or alcohol, the brain essentially malfunctions and the survival part of the brain hijacks operation of the brain—convincing the other parts of the brain that the drug is absolutely necessary for the person to survive. To accomplish this, the survival center completely shuts off the part of the brain controlling judgment, morals and Christian values. Brain scans will show complete darkness in this part of the brain of an active addict.

Today’s drugs, including marijuana, are also much more addictive than in the past. Teens and parents for the most part do not realize this. They do not realize that experimenting with marijuana can result in addiction. They do not realize that just one use of a drug like meth or crack cocaine can very often trigger addiction. Most folks think that drug use is a choice and you get what you deserve. Sometimes though, the initial use comes in spiked punch, spiked candy, and spiked whatever.

Several years ago, I was probably a typical parent of a teen—not knowing the warning signs of drug use and presuming that my child would never be convinced to try drugs.

Well, I have suffered through a lot of adversities in my life, including cancer and chemotherapy and radiation. Nothing, however, comes close to finding out your only child has a life threatening disease, chronic disease- chemical addiction. That happened to me on February 21, 2007.

As my child went through the ups and downs of rehab, I found myself literally going insane with worry and anxiety. I tried going to Al-Anon meetings without receiving much help. Then, I heard about Palmer Drug Abuse Program. PDAP has been an enormous gift from God. They have licensed drug abuse counselors available to parents, addicts and siblings of addicts—all at no charge. They conduct a number of 12 step meetings weekly at various churches for parents, addicts and siblings of addicts. The counselors have helped me immensely and the weekly meetings with other parents of addicts are beyond description. The veteran parents teach us newcomers about how important turning things over to God is, how important it is to stop rescuing and enabling after rehab, and how important it is to have a sponsor and work the 12 steps yourself. We learn that we did not cause it and we cannot cure it. We learn that only God can restore our sanity and our addict loved ones. Every week I see less religious parents being drawn to God and experienced Christian parents growing in their faith.

At weekly parent support meetings, I hear scriptures and things like: “Let go and let God; get out of God’s way; we will never get better as long as we depend on others instead of depending on God.” My faith and my dependence on God have grown dramatically as a result of PDAP.

In Bexar County, only about 10% of those needing help with substance abuse treatment are actually receiving it. The need for PDAP’s services is enormous, but with their present staff levels, they can only do so much. I have worked with many non-profit organizations in my professional career and I can think of no organization in our area that is more deserving than PDAP.

Parent of a WBC youth

________________________________________________________________________

I was so lost when I finally admitted to myself that my child had a drug problem. I was sent to PDAP by the school system. It turned out to be a God thing. I have come to trust the counselors and my sponsor and the group at PDAP with my life and that of my child. From the moment I stepped through the doors at House of Prayer Lutheran Church for my first meeting and saw faces of parents from WBC, I felt that God had led me here. I know he did now. It was PDAP that helped steer me to and through an intervention that led my child to inpatient rehab. I have learned that addiction is a medical disease and it is chronic. I have learned that it affects the whole family and that my child has an 80% better chance of staying in recovery if the family is involved. So, I must work my 12 step recovery program while my child works their recovery program. PDAP has been my lifeline.

Mother of a youth from WBC

_____________________________________________________________________

I cannot begin to express in such few words what PDAP has meant to my family. I came to PDAP so ashamed feeling that I had failed as a parent because my child was using alcohol and drugs, flunking and skipping school. I learned that the disease of addiction is every bit a medical disease like leukemia or diabetes and just as if my child had one of those I wouldn’t feel ashamed or a failure as a parent, I had not caused it. I learned about the “3 C’s” of Al-Anon—I didn’t cause it, I couldn’t cure it, and I couldn’t control it. I found so many other parents who had felt like I did at one time- scared, hurt, desperate, depressed, and yet they now seemed to be happy and laughing and some of them had kids who were still drinking and drugging or in prison. I wanted that. I learned that an addict has an 80% better chance of recovery if the whole family is involved in their own recovery. Thus I committed to working a 12 step program for me and entering treatment for my disease—codependency. I have been a part of PDAP for 3 years even though my child won’t participate. Nonetheless, my child is in recovery because I went to PDAP and did what they said. Not only is my child in recovery after almost dying from a drug overdose, but my relationship with God is far greater than my forty years as a Christian and active in a Baptist church had gotten me. I cannot say enough good things about PDAP and would encourage any family that has concerns about their child and drugs to call them.

Mother of a youth from WBC

________________________________________________________________________

When my wife and I finally faced up that our child was using alcohol and illegal drugs, we were sent to PDAP by a friend. We were provided with a lot of information about the disease of addiction and how our parenting was enabling our child’s continuing in their disease. By attending the Family Group meetings, educational sessions and counseling, all of which cost us nothing, we began to change our parenting style to that “tough love,” non-enabling, “letting go” behavior that is essential for the addict to face the consequences of their disease, hit bottom, and surrender to God and potentially enter recovery. PDAP was there for us when an intervention was needed to get our child to inpatient rehab.

Father of a youth from WBC

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Peace - PDAP has given me peace of mind and spirit by accepting that God is in Control

Dependence – PDAP has taught me to depend on God for “all” things big and small

Acceptance – PDAP has taught me that God and others accept me as I am…where I am

Personal Growth – PDAP has helped me grow in God’s Love and the love of others

I believe if it were not for this program and the support of this group, I would not have survived the last couple of years of dealing with the chaos of an active adult child addict.

A Loving & Caring Mom at WBC

My earliest memory takes me to the PDAP sign that one sees on Wurzbach Road and Ironside Street. I would see the portable building that is adjacent to House of Prayer Lutheran Church. I had thoughts like “what kind of program would have much to offer with such an old and small meeting place?” I had driven that road everyday for over 15 years. I’d look at that sign and wonder “what exactly is The Palmer Drug Abuse Program?” Not knowing (and never asking) I made my best conclusion … It must mean it’s a program for people that have a need for help and services meant for people that didn’t care about anyone or anything and chose to do drugs. Thank you God that I don’t have a need for that! That’s a program for another sect of society that I don’t run with, know anything about nor have the need to know anything about.

Well, life took a different turn for me and led me right to this very place on Wurzbach Road. PDAP has given me a place to be with families that are just like you and me who never thought their child would choose drugs. Going every week to a meeting I enter into a room where I know that I am not judged and do not fear how others may think of me. Through the love and commonality of this program I listen every week to personal heart breaking stories of parents having to see their child suffer their choices and the pain that hurts so deep. I went through some very hard times as well and now I am thankfully on the other side seeing my child becoming a wise person in charge of their life and now sober.

I heard one of our PDAP counselors say we used to not say the BC word “Breast Cancer”, but mindsets have changed. She used the same example with the A word “Addict”. We are not there yet, but we need to be … it is no different.

PDAP is my safe place and I experience God every Thursday night with a group of people that I may only see attend only once or come regularly. I am thankful that PDAP is in our San Antonio community meeting the needs of teenagers, parents and siblings in this awful disease. This program helps us cope and learn how to accept something that we have to give up control as a parent, a role that is foreign to us. We continue to strive to let go and let God. And one last thing, you know that run down, old building? Well it is just as plain and basic on the inside. But you don’t notice that stuff. What you hear and see once you walk in the door is laughter, loudness and life being lived in the healthiest way. It is the coolest place to hang out, feel accepted and know that you are not alone.

WBC Youth Parent